Wire packaging machine



July 16, 1963 M. A. NYE ETAL 3,

WIRE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORSMAURICE A. NYE 8 JESS C BITTMAN WW W9 ATTORNEYS July 16, 1963 Filed Dec.15. 1960 M. A. NYE ETAL WIRE PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3INVENTOR5 MAURICE A. NYE & JESS OBITHMN 13M, mm W ATTORNEYS July 16,1963 M. A. NYE ETAL WIRE PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.15. 1960 FIG 8 "FIG 6 INVENTORS MAURICE A. NYE 8 JESS C. BITTMANATTORNEYS July 16, 1963 M. A. NYE ETAL WIRE PACKAGING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed D60. 15, 1960 INVENTORS MAURICE A.NYE 8 JESSC.B|TTMAN BY 9 WW W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,097,812 WIREPACKAGING MACHINE Maur ce A. Nye and Jess C. Bittman, Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio, assignors to The Vaughn Machinery Company, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 75,965 Claims. (Cl.242-82) The present invention relates generally as indicated to a wirepackaging machine and more particularly to a socalled dead coil-deadblock machine in which both the package and takeup block are stationaryand in which the latter embodies a pushoif ring effective to advance theconvolutions of wire or the like, as they are formed around the block.

Hitherto, in wire packaging machines employing stationary takeup blocks,pushofi rings have not been employed owing to the difliculty of mountingsuch rings for wobbling action while holding them and the blocks againstrotation. Moreover, in such stationary takeup block packaging machinesit is conventional practice to conduct the elongated material throughthe hollow drive shaft of a rotary fiyer which has a sheave orbitingaround the takeup block to continuously wrap the elongated materialaround the latter. However, to prevent the wire from being too sharplycurved, such sheave has been made of relatively large diameter.Consequently the head of the machine must be sufficiently large topermit such orbiting of the large sheave around the takeup block.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide awire packaging machine of the stationary block-stationary coil type inwhich there is provided a wobbling non-rotating pushoif ring inassociation with the takeup block.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel wire guidemeans on the fiyer that contributes to the compactness of the machineherein while yet preventing the wire from being too sharply curved.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

To the acomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but oneof the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wire packaging machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view as viewed upwardly from the bottom ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a central vertical cross-section view showing the stationarytakeup block mounted on the fiyer drive shaft and showing thenon-rotating pushoif ring mounted in tilted position with respect to theaxis of the takeup block and fiyer drive shaft;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-section view on enlarged scaletaken substantially along the line 5'5, FIG. 4;

'FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line '66,FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the wire guide of the flyer assembly;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken susbtantially along the line 8-8,of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken substantially along 3,097,812Patented July 16, 1963 "ice the line 9-9, FIG. 4 showing the drivemechanism for the flyer drive shaft.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and first, more especially toFIGS. 1 to 3, the wire packaging machine 1 herein comprises a housing 2in front of which the coil receiver platform or pallet 3 is adapted tobe positioned, said platform being herein shown by way of example ascomprising a base 4 with upstanding guide bars 5 over which theconvolutions of wire W from horn 6 of the takeup block 7 descend bygravity to form a wire package or coil C.

The upper portion of the housing 2 has mounted thereon the stationaryhorizontal takeup block 7 with the born 6, composed as of curved tubes,secured thereto. The horn 6 receives the wire convolutions from thetakeup block 7 and turns them to generally horizontal position fordropping by gravity over the guide bars '5 of the pallet 3. The horn 6is preferably provided with a springloaded catch 8 to hold back theconvolutions as formed around the takeup block so that severalconvolutions will accumulate at the catch 8 before being released fortravel around the horn -6 for descent to form the coil C.

As later explained in detail, the takeup block 7 is provided with awobbling, non-rotating pushoif apron or ring 9 which is operative as theflyer assembly 10 is rotated about an axis which coincides with thehorizontal centerline of the takeup block 7 to progressively advance theconvolutions from the block 7 as the fiyer assembly 7i? wraps the wire Waround the block. If desired, the flyer assembly 10 may have a wiredrawing die 13 mounted thereon as shown in FIG. 1 so as to draw the wireW as it is wrapped around the block 7.

The housing 2 is provided with suitable hinged doors \11 which form anopening through which the wire convolutions are advanced. Above theplatform 3 there are provided arms .12 pivoted on vertical axes of thebrackets 14 for swinging movement either to permit free descent of thewire convolutions from the horn 6 to the platforms 3, or to arrest suchdescent. In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 these arms 12 are shown in thelast-mentioned position whereby the wire W may be severed for removal ofthe completed coil C and for placement of an empty platform 3 beneaththe horn 6. During the time that the complete coil C is being removed,the wire convolutions will be accumulated on said arms 12 so that it isnot necessary to stop the takeup operation.

" As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the incoming wire W passes under thesheave .15 of a pivoted tension arm 16 and thence passes through anadjustable pinch roll assembly 17 to impose tension on the wire W as itis wrapped around the takeup block 7 by the flyer assembly 10. The wireW from the pinch roll assembly 1-7 passes into the rear end of the flyerdrive shaft 18 (see FIG. 4).

' Having thus described the general construction of the wire packagingmachine 1 herein, special reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 to 9which show the details of construction of the stationary takeup block 7with its pushoif ring 9 and the flyer assembly 10 which orbits aroundthe takeup block 7 to wrap the wire W thereon to form it intoconvolutions or loops that are continuously pushed oif the block 7 bythe wobbling pushofi ring 9.

Thus, in FIG. 4 the flyer drive shaft 18 is supported in the housing 2for rotation about its horizontal axis by the antifriction bearings 19,20, and 21, and keyed on said shaft 18 between the bearings 19 and 20 isa worm Wheel 23. As best shown in FIG. 9, the worm wheel 23 is driven bythe worm shaft 24 which is journalled in the housing 2 by theantifr-iction bearings 25 and 26, the worm shaft being powered by theelectric drive motor 27 through the angle drive and speed reducer unit28.

'The flyer drive shaft 18 extends forwardly through the bearings and 21and has its front end portion rotatably supported by the bearings 29 and30 in the center of the takeup block 7.

Keyed on the portion of the flyer drive shaft 18 between the bearings 21and 29 is the flyer assembly 10 which is formed with a radial slot 31aligned with a radial slot 32 formed in the flyer drive shaft 18, thelatter slot 32 communicating with the central passage 34 in the shaft.The portion of the flyer assembly 10 shown in FIG. 4 comprises twosheaves 35 and 36 and a roller 37 journalled in the slot 31 and overwhich the wire W is curved as shown.

The flyer assembly 10 also carries a rotatable pinion shaft 38 mountedin the antifriction bearings 39 and having pinions 40 keyed at both endswhich mesh with gears 41 and 42 fixed to the housing 2 and to the takeupblock 7 respectively. In view of such epicyclic gearing arrangement, itcan be seen that when the flyer drive shaft 18 together with the flyerassembly 10 are rotated about the axis of the flyer drive shaft 18, thetakeup block 7 will be held against rotation due to the meshing of thepinion 49 with the gear 41 fixed to the housing 2.

The guide frame 43 of the flyer assembly 10 (see FIG. 1) is mounted intilted or skewed position with respect to the trans-axial plane of thetakeup block 7.

In the present case, instead of providing the usual sheave over whichthe wire W is guided for wrapping around the takeup block 7, there isprovided the obliquely disposed wire guide frame 43 which is mounted onboss 45 and which carries an arcuate series of guide sheaves 46 androllers 47, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The last sheave 46(at the left in FIG. 7) from which the wire W leaves the guide frame 43is carried by a block 48 which is slide-guided in longitudinal guideways49 formed in the frame 43. In threaded engagement with said block 48 isa rotatable, but axially fixed, adjusting screw 54!, and thus the lastsheave 46 may be longitudinally shifted to adjust the curvature of thewire W as it leaves the last sheave 46.

Secured to the flyer assembly 10 just behind the takeup block 7 is thebearing mounting plate 51 for the pushofif ring 9, there being opposedtapered roller bearings 52 or the like interposed between the hubs 53and 54 of mounting plate 51 and pusholf ring 9. The mounting plate 51and its hub 53 are tilted from vertical as represented by dot-dash line56 to cause wobbling of the non-rotating pushoff ring 9 between thesolid line and dotted line positions of FIG. 4 as the flyer assembly isrotated.

The pushoff ring 9 is fitted over the rear end of the takeup block 7 andhas a beveled face 57 along which the wire W is guided as it is wrappedaround the takeup block 7. The pushofi ring 9 is held against rotationWhile permitted to wobble as aforesaid with respect to the takeup block7 as by means of the universal joint assembly 58 which is illustrated indetail in FIGS. 5 and 6. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is fixedlymounted to the takeup block 7 a bracket assembly 59 provided with aspherical bearing 60. Similarly fixedly secured to the pushoif ring 9is'a bracket member 61 providing a spherical bearing 62. Extendingtangentially across said bearings and 62 and pivotally mounted on thebearing pins 63 and 64 are a pair of links 65. As evident, by reason ofthe provision of the spherical bearings 60 and 62 and the pivotalconnections of links 65 to the bearing pins 63 and 64, the pushoif ring9 is capable of universal tilting movement with respect to the takeupblock 7 while ro tation of the pushofl? ring 9 is prevented.

By reason of such mounting of the pushoif ring 9, the rotation of theflyer drive shaft 18 and flyer assembly 10 will cause the pushotf ringto wobble to provide a space from the last wire convolution to thebeveled face 57 for the convolution being formed and to shove the wire Waxially toward the horn 6.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the wire W which is to be packaged is trainedover the seven sheaves and rollers 46 and 47 of the flyer guide frame 43and when the flyer assembly rotates in a clockwise direction the wire Wwill be wrapped around the takeup block 7 adjacent the beveled face 57of the pushoif ring 9. As the Wire W is thus being wrapped around thetakeup block 7, the wobbling motion of the pushoif ring 9 willprogressively shove the wire W axially toward the horn 6. Theconvolutions or loops of wire W thus formed will accumulate to someextent at the spring-loaded catch 8 and periodically the convolutionswill overcome the tension in the spring, whereby they will gravitatearound the curved portion of the horn 6 and drop down around the guidebars 5 of the receiver 3, the accumulator arms 12 at that time being outof the way to permit such free descent of the convolutions. When thewire bundle or coil C is of desired size, the arms 12 will be swunginward to the position shown in FIG. 1, to arrest further descent of theconvolutions, whereupon the wire W may be cut and the receiver 3 withits package C thereon may be removed and replaced by an empty one. Inthe meantime, the convolutions will collect on the arms 12 and when theempty receiver 3 is in place, the arms 12 are swung apart to cause theconvolutions collected thereon to drop down over the guide bars 5 of thereceiver.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. In a wire packaging machine, the combination of a stationary takeupblock; a rotary fiyer assembly rotatable about an axis coinciding withthe centerline of said block to wrap wire around said block in the formof successive convolutions; a wobbling pushoff ring adjacent one end ofsaid block effective to push the convolutions therearound axially towardthe other end; said ring and assembly having a rotary, axially fixedconnection between them about an axis which is tilted with respect tothe centerline of said block; and universal joint means between saidring and block radially outward of said rotary connection arranged tohold said ring against rotation with respect to said block but to permitwobbling of said ring through such rotary connection. 1

2. The wire packaging machine of claim 1 wherein the centerline of saidblock is horizontal; and wherein a horn is secured to such other end ofsaid block to turn the convolutions pushed off said block to generallyhorizontal position for descent by gravity to form an upwardly growingpackage on a receiver adapted to be positioned beneath said horn.

3. In a wire packaging machine, the combination of a stationary takeupblock; a rotary flyer assembly including a hollow drive shaft thereforrotatable about an axis coinciding with the centerline of said block,and a wire guide to wrap wire fed through said drive shaft and over saidguide around said block in the form of successive convolutions; awobbling pusholf ring adjacent one end of said block efiective to pushthe convolutions therearound axially toward the other end; said ring andassembly having a rotary, axially fixed connection between them about anaxis which is tilted with respect to the centerline of said block; anduniversal joint means between said ring and block radially outward ofsaid rotary connection arranged to hold said ring against rotation withrespect to said block but to permit wobbling of said ring through suchrotary connection; said wire guide comprising an arcuate series of atleast three circular elements rotatable about their respective axes andover which the wire successively passes tangentially from said driveshaft to said block.

4. In a wire packaging machine, the combination of a stationary takeupblock; a rotary flyer assembly rotatable about an axis coinciding withthe centerline of said block to wrap wire around said block in the formof successive convolutions; a wobbling pushofi ring adjacent one end ofsaid block efiective to push the convolutions therearound axially towardthe other end; said ring and assembly having a rotary, axially fixedconnection between them about an axis which is tilted with respect tothe centerline of said block; and ball joint pivotal link means betweensaid ring and block radially outward of said rotary connection arrangedto hold said ring against rotation with respect to said block but topermit Wobbling of said ring through such rotary connection.

5. The wire packaging machine of claim 4 wherein said means includesmembers fixed respectively to said ring and block in circumferentiallyspaced relation, and a link pivotally connected to said members aboutgenerally radially extending axes to prevent relative rotation of saidring and block and to permit wobbling of said ring with respect to saidblock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A WIRE PACKAGING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A STATIONARY TAKEUPBLOCK; A ROTARY FLYER ASSEMBLY ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS COINCIDING WITHTHE CENTERLINE OF SAID BLOCK TO WRAP WIRE AROUND SAID BLOCK IN THE FORMOF SUCCESSIVE CONVOLUTIONS; A WOBBLING PUSHOFF RING ADJACENT ONE END OFSAID BLOCK EFFECTIVE TO PUSH THE CONVOLUTIONS THERE AROUND AXIALLYTOWARD THE OTHER END; SAID RING AND ASSEMBLY HAVING A ROTARY, AXIALLYFIXED CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM ABOUT AN AXIS WHICH IS TILTED WITH RESPECTTO THE CENTERLINE OF SAID BLOCK; AND UNIVERSAL JOINT MEANS BETWEEN SAIDRING AND BLOCK RADIALLY OUTWARD OF SAID ROTARY CONNECTION ARRANGED TOHOLD SAID RING AGAINST ROTATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BLOCK BUT TO PERMITWOBBING OF SAID RING THROUGH SUCH ROTARY CONNECTION.